14
votes
Accepted
Should ONLY ISKCON English translations of Scripture be cited when Traditional versions are also available?
Here's what I will say about this with all due respect. I had been a member of ISKCON for several years during my undergraduate degree (no longer one). My observations are as follows:-
1) ISKCON is a ...
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11
votes
How did the concept of 'Sect' arise in Sanatana Dharma?
Sect in Sanskrit is called SampradAya. And, it is the backbone of the Tantras. So, sects are widely mentioned in Tantras.
Sects are also mentioned in PurAnas as well as in some Smritis.
The reason ...
- 111k
10
votes
Accepted
Who is the supreme god according to Nath sampraday?
Natha Sampradaya Acknowledges Dwaita-Advaita Vilakshana Vada. It is both Dvaita and Advaita. At absolute level it recognises formless, nameless thing as Absolute truth which is called by the name Para ...
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9
votes
Who is the deity of the Purusha Suktam according to different schools?
Who is the deity of the Purusha Suktam according to different schools?
The deity of any Vedic Sukta/Mantra does not vary with schools ... The three limbs of any Vedic Mantra are fixed and no ...
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7
votes
Sects of Hinduism
Being a devotee of Lord Shiva does not give him rights to alter the Kula Devata of his family.So that is not right.
Moreover, if one is a "true" devotee of any God,then he sees all Gods as same and ...
- 111k
7
votes
Should ONLY ISKCON English translations of Scripture be cited when Traditional versions are also available?
First of all I think this question is more suitable for meta rather than main site. But since you have asked, so here is my answer. First we should know What is ISKCON?
The International Society for ...
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7
votes
Who is the deity of the Purusha Suktam according to different schools?
The Purusha Shuktam is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is confirmed in the last Part of the Purusha Shuktam which says
hrīś-ca te lakṣmīś-ca patnyau, ahorātre pārśve, nakṣatraṇi rüpam |
aśvinau ...
6
votes
Accepted
What are the views of different sects of Hinduism on Vedas?
The two parts of the Vedas should not be thought of as opposites but rather complementary. One part consists of dharma, the other part with moksha. In his book A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy, ...
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6
votes
Should ONLY ISKCON English translations of Scripture be cited when Traditional versions are also available?
ISKCON is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation. They are in fact Hindus. But they consider Sri Krishna as the supreme lord (Swayam Bhagawan) and claim to follow the Mahabharata and ...
6
votes
Accepted
Are/were there Hindu sects whose sectarian practices include martial arts?
nAgA sAdhus (ascetics) are a part of hindu sect who usually wander without clothes.
There are several sub sects of sampradayas among these. They are like warrior monks of Hinduism. They are usually ...
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6
votes
What are the characteristics of a bona-fide Sampradaya?
Any valid sect (Sampradaya) must start with God. And then it comes to us through the 3 lines (Pangktis) of Gurus viz- Divyauga (Divine Gurus), Siddhaugha (Celestial Gurus) and Manavaugha (Human Gurus)....
- 111k
5
votes
Accepted
What commentary on the Brahma Sutras does the Saiva Siddhanta Church support?
The Saiva Siddhanta Church doesn't subscribe to the Brahma Sutras. I emailed the editors of Hinduism Today, the popular magazine published by the Saiva Siddhanta Church. They replied that unlike ...
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5
votes
Accepted
Which are the scriptures endorsed by Swaminarayana Sampradaya?
Yes, we can say Swaminarayana is a sub-sect of Sri Sampradaya of Vaishnavism. Swami Ramananda was Guru of Sahajananda Swami. Swami Ramananda told that Ramanujacharya once gave him diksha (initiation) ...
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5
votes
In medieval era debates, was calling your opponent's source "Tamasic" a debating tactic?
Sri Appayya Dikshita writes in his book, Sivatattvaviveka
We are not very much worried about whether it is Vishnu or Siva who is
the supreme deity spoken of by the Upanishads because we follow
...
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5
votes
Accepted
In which lokas are the Apsaras born and which other lokas do they go on to inhabit?
The Original Loka of the Apsaras
Apsaras are originally residents of a sub Loka named Apsara Loka, of the bigger Bhuvarloka. (Refer: How many lokas are there?)
The region above the earth and below the ...
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4
votes
What are the major sects of Hinduism?
There are generally 5 major sects in Hinduism based on chief deity of worship. Unfortunately, Saura and Ganapatya is close to extinction now. They generally employ the process of worship based on ...
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4
votes
What percentage of Hindus belong to a sect that subscribes to the Vedanta school?
If the question is about Hinduism at present, then I think it is faulty. Of the six Astika schools—Sankya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimangsha, Vedanta, each which differed a little bit in their ...
4
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between Veerashaivism and Lingayatism?
Well just stating the differences between the two as has been stated in OneIndia. The following is an article excerpt:
Who are Veerashaivas
Veerashaivas are worshippers of Lord Shiva. They ...
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4
votes
Do hindu sects have doctrines as to whether or not other sects can provide liberation?
Both pro and con opinions regarding other sects able to provide liberation are available.
Sri Ramakrishna, for example, says that all sects are paths to God.
“With sincerity and earnestness one can ...
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4
votes
Does the sect Sauram still exist?
Let me add a partial answer because the information i'll be providing is knowledge-worthy.
To be specific,i'm answering this question"Which Hindu Texts describe Surya as the Supreme Being Or are ...
- 111k
4
votes
Does Advaita accept vamchara followers?
In his book The Spiritual Heritage of India, Swami Prabhavananda says (pp 143-145, section heading: The Tantras):
The Tantras are the scriptures by means of which knowledge is spread in order to ...
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4
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Do scriptures define what a "sect" (सम्प्रदाय ) is?
Yes there is. Srimad Bhagavatam explains the reason for differences between sects.
Explanation of different interpretations
Just as one object with various attributes is seen differently ...
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